Valve connector for a valve of an inflating device and adapter having the same

ABSTRACT

A valve connector has a tubular body, a connection head, and an annular seal. The tubular body has at least one air inlet, an air outlet, and a first threaded hole. The first threaded hole is defined in the tubular body, communicates with the air outlet, and has a first thread specification and an inner diameter. The connection head is mounted detachably on the tubular body and has a second threaded hole and a recess. The second threaded hole has a second thread specification and an inner diameter larger than that of the first threaded hole. The recess is axially defined in the connection head and has an inner diameter larger than that of the second threaded hole. The annular seal is mounted in the recess in the connection head and is clamped between the tubular body and the connection head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a valve connector, and moreparticularly to a valve connector that can be connected with differenttypes of valves of an inflating device.

2. Description of Related Art

An inflating device is applied to inflate an object, such as a ball, atire, or an air balloon. However, to inflate different objects,different types of adapters for different valves are needed, so to carryand use different types of adapters for inflating different objects istroublesome. Therefore, an adapter that can be connected with differenttypes of valves is provided.

Taiwan Utility Models No. M26688, M466170, and M439582 respectivelydisclose a conventional adapter for an inflating device that can beapplied to different types of valves. The conventional adaptersrespectively have a seal mounted in the adapter to prevent leakage fromoccurring. However, the seal of the conventional adapter only abutsagainst an inner surface of the adapter and is easily pushed out of theadapter by the pressured air to cause air leakage. The conventionaladapter has to be improved.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide avalve connector to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a valve connector thatcan be connected with different types of valves of an inflating deviceand provides an excellent leakage-proof effect.

The valve connector has a tubular body, a connection head, and anannular seal. The tubular body has a first end, a second end, an airchannel, at least one air inlet, an air outlet, and a first threadedhole. The air channel is defined in the tubular body. The at least oneair inlet is defined in the tubular body and communicates with the airchannel. The air outlet is defined in the tubular body and communicateswith the air channel. The first threaded hole is defined in the firstend of the tubular body, communicates with the air outlet, and has afirst thread specification and an inner diameter. The connection head ismounted detachably on the first end of the tubular body and has an innerend, an outer end, a second threaded hole, and a recess. The secondthreaded hole is defined through the inner end and the outer end and hasa second thread specification and an inner diameter larger than that ofthe first threaded hole. The recess is axially defined in the inner endof the connection head, communicates with the second threaded hole, andhas an inner diameter larger than that of the second threaded hole. Theannular seal is mounted in the recess in the connection head and isclamped between the first end of the tubular body and the inner end ofthe connection head.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adapter for an inflating device inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the adapter in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the adapter in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an adapter in accordance with thepresent invention comprises a valve connector and a casing 15. The valveconnector comprises a tubular body 10, a connection head 20, and anannular seal 30.

The tubular body 10 comprises a first end 11, a second end 12, an airchannel, at least one air inlet 13, an air outlet 14, and a firstthreaded hole 111. The air channel is defined in the tubular body 10.The at least one air inlet 13 is defined in the tubular body 10 andcommunicates with the air channel. Preferably, the tubular body 10further has an annular groove 101 defined around an outer surface of thetubular body 10 and having a bottom, and two air inlets 13 areimplemented, are defined through the bottom of the annular groove 101,and are diametrically aligned with each other. The air outlet 14 isdefined in the tubular body 10 and communicates with the air channel.The first threaded hole 111 is defined in the first end 11 of thetubular body 10, communicates with the air outlet 14, and has a firstthread specification and an inner diameter.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the connection head 20 is mounteddetachably on the first end 11 of the tubular body 10, is preferablymounted on the first end 11 of the tubular body 10 by threading, and hasan inner end 21, an outer end 22, a second thread hole 201, and a recess23. The second threaded hole 201 is defined through the inner end 21 andthe outer end 22 and has a second thread specification and an innerdiameter larger than that of the first threaded hole 111. The recess 23is axially defined in the inner end 21 of the connection head 20,communicates with the second threaded hole 201, and has an innerdiameter larger than that of the second threaded hole 201. In addition,an outer cap 24 is mounted around the outer end 22 of the connectionhead 20.

The annular seal 30 is mounted in the recess 23 in the connection head20 and is clamped between the first end 11 of the tubular body 10 andthe inner end 21 of the connection head 20.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the casing 15 is hollow, is mountedaround the valve connector and comprises two opposite ends, a firstopening 151, a second opening 152, a third opening 153, a threaded rod18, a washer 17, and a rear cap 19.

The first and third openings 151,153 are defined respectively in theopposite ends of the casing 15, and the second opening 152 is defined inthe casing 15 and communicates with the at least one air inlet 13 in thetubular body 10. The third opening 153 has an axis a3 at an angle θ withrespect to an axis a2 of the second opening 152. The first end 11 of thetubular body 10 extends out from the first opening 151 of the casing 15,and the connection head 20 is located outside the first opening 151 ofthe casing 15. The outer cap 24 has a length extending to the firstopening 151 of the casing 15. In addition, multiple O-rings 16 aremounted around the tubular body 10 and are clamped between the outersurface of the tubular body 10 and an inner surface of the casing 15 toprovide a sealing effect to the space formed between the tubular body 10and the casing 15. The threaded rod 18 is mounted in the third opening153, extends through the washer 17, and is screwed securely into thesecond end 12 of the tubular body 10. The rear cap 19 is mounted in thethird opening 153 to close the third opening 153, is mounted around anend of the threaded rod 18, and abuts the washer 17.

The casing 15 further has a hose connecting head 154 formed on andprotruding from the casing 15 at a position in which the second opening152 is defined. A pressing sleeve 155 is detachably mounted on thecasing 15 around the hose connecting head 154 and has an annular gapformed between the pressing sleeve 155 and the hose connecting head 154.

With such an arrangement, a Presta valve can be connected with the firstthreaded hole 111 in the first end 11 of the tubular body 10, or aSchrader valve can be connected with the second threaded hole 201 in theconnection head 20. Accordingly, the adapter can be applied to inflatedifferent objects with different types of valves. In addition, with theannular seal 30 clamped between the connection head 20 and the tubularbody 10, the annular seal 30 can provide an excellent leakage-proofeffect and can be prevented from being pushed out of the adapter evenwhen high pressured air is fed into the adapter.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and function of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve connector for an inflating devicecomprising: a tubular body having a first end; a second end; an airchannel defined in the tubular body; at least one air inlet defined inthe tubular body and communicating with the air channel; an air outletdefined in the tubular body and communicating with the air channel; anda first threaded hole defined in the first end of the tubular body,communicating with the air outlet, and having a first threadspecification and an inner diameter; a connection head mounteddetachably on the first end of the tubular body and having an inner end;an outer end; a second threaded hole defined through the inner end andthe outer end and having a second thread specification and an innerdiameter larger than the inner diameter of the first threaded hole; anda recess axially defined in the inner end of the connection head,communicating with the second threaded hole, and having an innerdiameter larger than the inner diameter of the second threaded hole; andan annular seal mounted in the recess in the connection head and clampedbetween the first end of the tubular body and the inner end of theconnection head.
 2. The valve connector as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe tubular body further has an annular groove defined around an outersurface of the tubular body and having a bottom; and two air inlets areimplemented, are defined through the bottom of the annular groove, andare diametrically aligned with each other.
 3. An adapter comprising: avalve connector as defined in claim 1 and comprising a tubular bodyhaving a first end; a second end; an air channel defined in the tubularbody; at least one air inlet defined in the tubular body andcommunicating with the air channel; an air outlet defined in the tubularbody and communicating with the air channel; and a first threaded holedefined in the first end of the tubular body, communicating with the airoutlet, and having a first thread specification and an inner diameter; aconnection head mounted detachably on the first end of the tubular bodyand having an inner end; an outer end; a second threaded hole definedthrough the inner end and the outer end and having a second threadspecification and an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter ofthe first threaded hole; and a recess axially defined in the inner endof the connection head, communicating with the second threaded hole, andhaving an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the secondthreaded hole; and an annular seal mounted in the recess in theconnection head and clamped between the first end of the tubular bodyand the inner end of the connection head; and a casing being hollow,mounted around the valve connector, and comprising a first openingdefined in the casing and from which the first end of the tubular bodyextends out; and a second opening defined in the casing andcommunicating with the at least one air inlet in the tubular body. 4.The adapter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tubular body further hasmultiple O-rings mounted around the tubular body and clamped between anouter surface of the tubular body and an inner surface of the casing. 5.The adapter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the casing further has twoopposite ends, a third opening, a threaded rod, a washer, and a rearcap; the first and third openings are defined respectively in theopposite ends of the casing; the third opening has an axis at an anglewith respect to an axis of the second opening; the threaded rod ismounted in the third opening, extends through the washer, and is screwedsecurely into the second end of the tubular body; and the rear cap ismounted in the third opening to close the third opening, is mountedaround an end of the threaded rod, and abuts the washer.
 6. The adapteras claimed in claim 5, wherein the casing further has a hose connectinghead formed on and protruding from the casing at a position in which thesecond opening is defined.
 7. The adapter as claimed in claim 6, whereinthe casing further has a pressing sleeve detachably mounted on thecasing around the hose connecting head and having an annular gap formedbetween the pressing sleeve and the hose connecting head.
 8. The adapteras claimed in claim 7, wherein the connection head is mounted on thefirst end of the tubular body by threading, and is located outside thefirst opening of the casing; and an outer cap is mounted around theconnection head.